Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 6: Japan Minister for Science & Technology Policy and Minister of State for Space Policy, ONODA Kimi, accompanied by a high level official delegation, called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, to discuss collaboration across different domains, particularly in the field of health and medical devices.
India and Japan advanced their strategic partnership in science, technology and innovation during the high-level bilateral engagement with a strong focus on emerging and critical technologies.
The meeting marked the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of health and medical devices among the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
A Letter of Intent (LoI) on cooperation in Quantum Science and Technology was also signed between the Cabinet Office of Japan and DST, opening new avenues for collaboration in next-generation technologies.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jitendra Singh said- India and Japan share a natural synergy in science and technology. While Japan brings advanced technological capabilities, India offers a vast pool of talented human resources. Together, we can accelerate innovation in frontier areas and translate research into impactful societal outcomes.
The Minister added that India’s expanding national missions in Quantum Technologies, Cyber-Physical Systems, Electric Mobility, Clean Energy and Advanced Computing reflect the country’s strong push towards deep-tech sectors, creating new opportunities for joint research, co-development and industrial partnerships.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. ONODA Kimi appreciated India’s rapid economic growth and its strong commitment to innovation, particularly the large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors. She shared that her visit to India, including interactions with academic institutions, reflected a strong culture of resilience among young researchers, with the ability to learn from failure and continue pursuing innovation.
ONADO Kimi highlighted that Japan’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and computational technologies, including quantum and AI, align closely with India’s expanding technology ecosystem. She expressed confidence that the agreements exchanged during the meeting, particularly in quantum technologies and health research, will promote deeper collaboration spanning research, application and industrial deployment.
During the discussions, both sides exchanged detailed views on strengthening cooperation under India’s National Quantum Mission, which is advancing an integrated approach across quantum computing, communication, sensing and materials, along with progress in long-distance quantum secure communication networks.
From the Indian side, key participants included Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, and Prof. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, along with senior officials associated with international cooperation and quantum initiatives.
The Japanese delegation included senior officials such as Fukunaga Tetsuro, Director-General, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy; Mr. Hayashi Teiji, Ambassador for Global Health, and representatives from AMED and the Embassy of Japan in India.
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